Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-20
SAL rATI0N.
rur oUKsr,of or PUBLIC KEALTH
rlsCusSED.
what Richn nd Needs Suggestions
About Plumbing and Hoase'
% Htocs Visits.
OyT1cE OF T,sx BoAED or HEALTH, [
va At 10 1907

OFFICE OF 1'iE boAED OF jhAlhn'
RICHMOND, Va. March ~, 1881 \
n me Eaitor OF TIC Dispatch;
thank You for your editorial this
morning on sanitation, and trust that
+, NAV he The means Of awakening n
Syclv interest among orr citizens IN "a |
.nbicci Of such vith interest to them.
Nothing can be Of such paramount I'M
ro,iapcc TO community Gs the en-
forcemcn; 81 strict sanitary measures,
tending. as they DO, t. the prevention
of disease and she preservation oil 'he
lives Of the people. Il has beeu wen
aid that d.sc.se and death iurk |
in n handful Of deoaying garoage
The DESTROYING elements may he omni-
nrcsrnt IN our anvcnuia'cd houses y
neglected corner az the yard may breed
disease and pcstilencc. In my yearly
report | endcayored to call attention TO
these things, to suggest remedies, ana
urgently requested the active co'peTa'
ton of our citizens. rs soon as the
rcuort is printed shall call the atten-
iion of the police authorities to the or,
dinanccs that / have therein referred
10. snch as the residents of all houses
and lots causing the paved gutter or
Grain in p street or any public alley OPP
.,osite thereto to he kept constantly
omen and free from distractions,
preventing persons from depositlng
nth. garbage. ashes, &C. in the streets
ar mblic alleys. holding citizens re-
sponsible for filth, rubbish, &c, found
coutjouons 10 their houses or lots I'M
loss tlIcv remove them or give iniorma-
,ion Of their locality to the City Engl-
ncer or police force. AT the same time
shall request the favor Of allowing the
police force 90 make an inspection OF
The CITY and report all lots and premises
found IN an unsanitary condition. On
fine back of each certificate used by
physicians have caused to be printed
The following request g In cases OF
death from zymOtic disease, please
state what, il any, local or general cause
exists 10 produce the sale (By the
term iOcqi isunderstoCdi in or around the
premises or residences, such as detec-
tive ventilation, gasses, imperfect
plumbing, dampness, or non-connec-
ton with sewer /; gcncr0i, anywhere
IN the city or suburbs-cess-pools, stag
nant ponds. want Of proper drainage,
use OF wcll-wator, or anything tending
10 gcrminate miasma) i trust that
physicians will not only oblige me in
this respect and on such occasions, but
at all other times, and that the clti-
.ens generally Will feel that l regard
such information sent to this office rs ~
personal favor done me. As | have
iefore stated, We need sanitary inspec-
tors in connection with this office who
are practical plumbers. 1t should be
their duty to rigidly inspect all
sewer connections, and be response
bic for the character of work done
and the ventilation Of all connected
prcmises. Before the work is paid for
by the owner the permit to do such
work should be approved by this Office,
with the statement on the certificate
that the provisions of the ordinance
have been complied with. From per
sonal observation and experience | am
satisfied that not only the premises,
but house-to-hOusc inspection IS alb
solutcly demanded. Defects rs to ven
iilation should be reported and remedied
rs early rs practicable. The sanitary
officers should make this inspection not
less than twice year. In almost every
city of any size in the Union that l
know OF there is an inspector OF
plumbing. If We can combine the
two Offices in this department
of sanitary officer and Inspector OF
plumbing | feel that 1t will inure to
the benefit of the citizens. Have two
officers for this special duty, and also
two managers for the Street-Sweeplng
Department to remain with the hands
and direct them IN the two districts OF
the city. The city will thus he kept
cleaner and the greatest cause OF our
mortality - defective ventilation and
the cscarc OF sewcr-gas -bc remedied.
II ia useless to allude 10 the creation
of new Offices. We simply request one
extra man and the same service &c
corded the Street, Gas, and Water De
rartments. Inspectors in the Gas and
Water Departments and the assistant
cngineers attend to their legitimate
duties, ana OtNcf men are l'ldO'N W.
those at work on the streets to direct
them.
We need an efficient service IN con
nection with this department, and such
men and measures rs are rightly ac-
corded the other departments OF our
city. Surely the preservation OF the
health of our citiZcns-nay, of Their
very lives--is of as much importance
rs the laying out, grading, and paving
Of streets and extension OF Our gas and
water works.
The rate of mortality of our city to-
day compares favonbly with that OF
any city of its size III the Union. Her
natural advantages should place her
ahead Of all others as regards health.
Let all Of our citizens cooperate to pro
duce this desired result, and afford us
the facilities for doing our whole duty
in connection with the Office.
II. J.. SrRATrON.